Turbine-water-wheel system.



Patented July 29, I902.

A. GIESLER.

TURBINE WATER WHEEL SYSTEM.

[Application filed Sept. 27. 1900.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheeis-Sheet I.

Q ii

Patented July 29, I902.

A. GIESLER.

TURBINE WATER WHEEL SYSTEM.

(Application filed Sept. 27, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

We Model.)

WITNESSES INVENTOR,

HTTQRNEY,

UNITED STATES 1 PATENT I OFFICE.

BIERCE & SMITH-VAILE CO., OF

OF NEW JERSEY.

DAYTON, HIO, A CORPORATION TU RBlNE-WATEli-WHEEL SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 705,994, dated July 29,1902.

Application filed September 27,1900. Serial No. 31,243- No m l.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR GIESLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Turbine-Water-Wheel Systems; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tof make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in water-wheel systems and possesses the novel and advantageous features hereinafter described and claimed.

In my pending application; Serial No. 31,689, filed October 1, 1900, I have claimed,

. broadly, means for admitting air in the wheelfacture and installation of turbine waterwheels hasdemonstrated that in very many instances owing to the physical conditions it is desirable and in many casesnecessary to place said turbines'a considerable distance. above the water in the tail-race. I In order to do this without loss of head and consequent loss of power, it becomes necessary to connect the turbine with the water in the tailrace by means of a draft-tube, which may Vary in length according to requirements. With certain types of water-wheels to wit, those known as the Girard or impulse typemy experience has demonstrated the desirability. of maintaining the height of the water in the draft-tube at a predetermined leveland that this can be best accomplished by the admission of air to'the draft-tube. The quantityof air required for that purpose depends'upon'the quantity of water the wheel is discharging, which will depend upon the stage of opening of the water-wheel gate,

' which in turn depends upon theload the water-wheel is carrying-i. e. ,in practice the water-wheel gate is controlled by'a governor or regulator, which opens or closes it to accommodate the varying load on the Wheel. The height of water in the draft-tube having Tbe en determined at point where the waterwheel will develop its greatest efliciency, it is evident that an automatic device for maintaining that level under varying loads becomes a great desideratum. This result is accomplished by my invention, which I will now proceed to describe.

Referring to the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a water-wheel system constructed in ac cordance with my ence indicate correspondingfparts.

l A designatesa turbine-wheel casing, which is connected with the tail-race by a draft-tube B, said draft-tube being of suitable length to extend from said wheel-casing to the tail-water. Within said casing there is horizontally mounted one or more turbine wheels 0 in the usual manner, said turbines being of the impulsi or Girard type.

N N designate two deflector-plates, which project from the interior walls of the turbinecasing. These plates extend throughout the length of the casing and occupy inclined positions, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The said plates provide an inclosure above the turbine wheel, from which the air is admitted directly to the wheel-buckets as the wheel rotates.

D designates a watercylinder placed in suitable proximity to the wheel-casing and connected therewith by a water tube E. .Within said water-cylinder there is placed a float F, the position of which is at all times controlled by the water-level within the wheelcasing. This float is connected to a hollow stem G, which has a valve-plug H connected to its upper end.

I designates a cylinder or valve casing, the sides of which are provided with a suitable number of air-ports I. This valve-casing I is mounted on the upper end of a hollow extension D, extending from the float-cylinder D, said extension inclosing the float-stem G. The air-valve is connected with the wheelcasing by means of a T-fitting and a pipe K, which discharges into the wheel-casing at predetermined periods, as will hereinafter appear. The plates N N provide a compartment or space for the air which enters through pipe K.

I designates an inner sleeve or bushing which is placed on the interior of the valvecasing I. The said-bushing is also provided with a suitable number of ports J, which correspond in shape with the air-ports I in the casing I, and when the said bushing is in proper position within the casingI the openings or ports J therein will register with the ports I. The valve-plug H being attached to the stem G, a connection is formed between said valve-plug and the float I It will therefore be seen that the movements of the float, which are due to the rise and fall of the water in the draft-tube, will be transmitted to the valve-plug II, and this will accordingly cover or uncover the air-ports I to exclude or admit air to the wheel-casing. The valveplug H thus automatically cove rs and u ncovers the air-ports I. When the valve-plug H is in such position as to close said ports altogether, atmospheric pressure is entirely excluded from the valve. This position of the valve will take place when the water within the wheel-casing is maintained at the desired level, which is substantially as shown in Fig. 1. When the water within the wheelcasing rises above the desired level, a corresponding rise takes place in the float-chamber D, and the float F, which is carried upon the surface of the waterwithin the chamber D, will rise therewith, and the valve-plug II will also be moved to uncover the valve-ports 1. Air will be then admitted through the valve in and through the passage K to the interior of the wheel-casing, as shown by the various arrows. Air thus entering the wheelsired level.

cent float'chamber are exhausted of air by the water entering thewheel-casing and issuing through the radial discharging turbine water-wheel. The air is exhausted or rarefled to an extent that is due to the height from the tail-Water to the predetermined point of water within the turbine casing. For example, the distance between the predetermined point of the tail-water is, say, ten feet. It follows,therefore,that a correct vacu um-gage should register about nine inches of vacuum.

It will be understood that a connection between the fioat-chamberD and the tail-water may be made at any point between the level of the water in the wheel-casing and the tailwater.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In a horiaontal-water-wheel system, the combination of a turbine-casing, a horizontal turbine wheel mounted in said casing, said turbine wheel being of the impulse or Girard type, a draft-tube connecting said casing with the tail-water, an auxiliary water-chamber, a communication between the draft -tube or wheel-casing and said auxiliary water-chamber, a float within said auxiliary water-chamber, an air-valve controlled by said float, and a communication between said air-valve and the turbine-easing whereby air is discharged into said turbine-casing above the surface of the water, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a horizontal-water-wheel system, the combination of a turbine-casing, a horizontal turbine wheel mounted in said casing, said turbine being of the impulse or Girard type, a draft-tube connecting said casing with the tailwater, an auxiliary water-chamber, a passage between the draft-tube or wheel-casing and said auxiliary water-chamber, a float within said auxiliary water-chamber, an air-valve carried by said float, and a communication between said air-valve and said turbine-casing whereby air is discharged to said turbinecasing above the turbine wheel, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR GIESLER.

Witnesses:

Tnos. J. ELLIFF, R. J. MCOARTY. 

